Star in the Night

Star in the Night is a 1945 American short drama film directed by Don Siegel. The film was Siegels directorial debut, and won an Academy Award in 1946 for Best Short Subject TwoReel. The film is a modernday retelling of the Nativity story, set on Christmas Eve at a desert motel in the Southwestern United States.

A young MexicanAmerican couple, Jose and Maria Santos, arrives at the motel hoping to get lodging. There are no cabins available, so Rosa accommodates them in a small shed next to the hotel. Maria is expecting a baby and is in a somewhat critical condition without a doctor. When the motel lodgers find out about Marias approaching birth they try to help her. The lodgers forget their selfishness and now react in a social way For example, the businessman who was angry about the poor work of the laundry on his expensive shirt, now insists that his shirts be torn up to make bandages for the delivery when none can be located These will make the best bandages in the world, tearing up the first one himself. After the successful birth, the three cowboys appear at the motel and give their presents to the child. Nick learns that there is still goodness in the world and is now positive about Christmas. He even gives the hitchiker, who observed the situation, a cup of coffee and his coat. He wishes Merry Christmas to the hitchiker who now leaves the hotel. At the end, Nick sees how much the birth of the child in his shed resembles the Nativity Story and cries.The short film Star in the Night deals with a modern retelling of the Nativity story and also adds some elements from A Christmas Carol to it. Saul Elkins wrote the screenplay the story was by Robert Finch. Produced with a rather small budget and character actors, it was the directorial debut of Don Siegel, who later directed thriller feature films like Dirty Harry. Previously Siegel had worked as a Warner Bros. montage and second unit director. The cinematography was by a young Robert Burks who later worked for Alfred Hitchcock. ........

Source: Wikipedia